Reproducing system and reproduction method, and data transmission device and data transmission method

ABSTRACT

A reproduction player ( 10 ) comprising a packet processing unit ( 14 ) for allowing A/V data reproduced from a recording medium by a disc reproducing unit ( 12 ) and an encoder ( 13 ) to be packet data so that communication packet is provided, and for inserting additional information indicating operating state of the reproduction player ( 10 ) into the communication packet, and a remocon ( 20 ) comprising a packet processing unit ( 25 ) for taking out additional information along with A/V data from communication packet that a receiving unit ( 24 ) has received, an output unit ( 21 ) for externally outputting music and/or image on the basis of the A/V data, and a display unit ( 22 ) for displaying operating state of the reproduction player ( 10 ) on the basis of the additional information are used to constitute a reproducing system which reproduces music and/or video data. User can recognize, on the real time basis, the state of the unit of the transmitting side which reproduces A/V data at an remote output equipment.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a reproducing system and a reproducingmethod for reproducing music and/or video data, and a data transmittingapparatus and a data transmitting method for transmitting music and/orvideo data, and more particularly to a reproducing system comprising aunit for reproducing music and/or data and a unit for externallyoutputting music and/or image, a reproducing method in such areproducing system, and a data transmitting apparatus and a datatransmitting method for transmitting music and/or video data to a unitfor externally outputting music and image.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] There are systems for carrying out transmission/reception of dataof audio and video (hereinafter referred to as A/V) (hereinafterreferred to as A/V data) between equipments linked by digital network toreproduce such data on the real time basis. The system for manipulatingA/V equipment existing at a remote place to receive contents by monitoror speaker near at hand to reproduce it is an example of the systems asdescribed above. As an equipment which manipulates such A/V equipmentexisting at a remote place (hereinafter referred to as remote outputequipment), remote controller having speaker or earphone, etc. ismentioned. It should be noted that there are cases of only audio data,or cases of only video data as data caused to undergotransmission/reception.

[0003] In the case where packet communication is utilized forcommunication, the transmitting side encodes A/V data to divide it intoframes. Further, the transmitting side supplements headers forexchanging data on network to divided individual frames to transmit themas communication packet. In correspondence therewith, the receiving sideremoves the headers from the received communication packet to decode theremoved remaining data portion to reproduce it. By such a series ofprocessing, at the receiving side, it is possible to reproduce audio andvideo data on the basis of A/V data reproduced at the transmitting side.

[0004] Meanwhile, in such system, there are instances where informationexcept for A/V data is also caused to undergo transmission/receptiontogether. For example, there is the case where user desires to recognizethe state of player by remote output equipment at a remote positionwhile reproducing music by player.

[0005] Here, as the player, there is mentioned a disc recording and/orreproducing apparatus having a function to reproduce recording medium,e.g., so-called CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or MD(Mini Disc), etc. In addition, as the state that user desires to know,there are mentioned title of tune that player is reproducing, playingremaining time of tune and/or internal state of player (e.g., playback(reproduction), double speed playback (reproduction), stop, temporarystop, etc.).

[0006] However, ordinarily, this function is available only in thesystem where communication except for A/V data can be carried out inparallel. In this case, mechanism for carrying outtransmission/reception of information except for A/V data isindependently defined to carry out communication in accordance with themechanism. Further, it is necessary to mount two communication protocolsinto the equipment.

[0007] For this reason, players designed in correspondence with onlycommunication protocol of A/V data in which such a definition is notcarried out in advance cannot send, on the real time basis, informationsuch as title of tune being reproduced, playing remaining time of tuneand/or internal state of player, etc. to remote output equipment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of this invention is to provide a reproducing system, areproducing method, a data transmitting apparatus and a datatransmitting method which can recognize, at remote output equipment,state of apparatus of the transmitting side which reproduces A/V data onthe real time basis.

[0009] In order to solve the above-described problems, a reproducingsystem according to this invention comprises a reproducing unitincluding packet data generating means for allowing music and/or videodata reproduced from a recording medium to be packet data so thatcommunication packet is provided, and for inserting additionalinformation into the communication packet, and transmitting means fortransmitting the communication packet outputted from the packet datagenerating means onto communication path. In addition, the reproducingsystem comprises an external output unit including receiving means forreceiving communication packet on communication path, data taking-outmeans for taking out additional information along with music and/orvideo data from the communication packet that the receiving means hasreceived, external output means for externally outputting music and/orimage on the basis of the music and/or video data that the datataking-out means has taken out, and operating means operative on thebasis of the additional information that the data taking-out means hastaken out.

[0010] In reproducing system having such configuration, the reproducingunit is operative so that when music and/or video data reproduced fromrecording medium are caused to be packet data so that communicationpacket is provided, additional information is inserted intocommunication packet by the packet data generating means, andcommunication packet outputted from the packet data generating means istransmitted onto communication path by the transmitting means. Theexternal output unit is operative so that additional information istaken out by the data taking-out means together with music and/or videodata from communication packet that the receiving means has receivedfrom on communication path, the external output means externally outputsmusic and/or image on the basis of music and/or video data that the datataking-out means has taken out, and the operating means becomesoperative on the basis of additional information that the datataking-out means has taken out.

[0011] Namely, the reproducing system includes additional informationinto communication packet used for transmission of music and/or videodata from the reproducing unit during reproduction to thereby allow theoperating means of the external output unit to be operative on the basisof additional information within communication packet transmitted duringreproduction.

[0012] Moreover, in order to solve the above-described problems, areproducing method according to this invention includes a reproductiontransmitting step of reproducing music and/or video data from arecording medium to allow the music and/or video data to be packet dataso that communication packet is provided, and of inserting additionalinformation into the communication packet to transmit the communicationpacket onto communication path, and an external output step of receivingthe communication packet transmitted onto the communication path at thereproduction transmitting step to take out additional informationtogether with the music and/or video data from the receivedcommunication packet to externally output music and/or image on thebasis of the music and/or video data which has been taken out, and ofoperating operating means on the basis of the additional information.

[0013] In such reproducing method, additional information is includedinto communication packet used for transmission of music and/or videodata from the reproducing unit during reproduction to thereby operatethe operating means of the external output unit on the basis ofadditional information within the communication packet transmittedduring reproduction.

[0014] Further, in order to solve the above-described problems, a datatransmitting apparatus according to this invention comprises packet datagenerating means for allowing music and/or video data reproduced from arecording medium to be packet data so that communication packet isprovided and for inserting additional information into the communicationpacket, and transmitting means for transmitting the communication packetoutputted from the packet data generating means onto communication path.

[0015] The data transmitting apparatus having such configuration isoperative so that when music and/or video data reproduced from therecording medium is caused to be packet data so that communicationpacket is provided, it inserts additional information into communicationpacket by the packet data generating means to transmit the communicationpacket outputted from the packet data generating means onto thecommunication path by the transmitting means.

[0016] Namely, the data transmitting apparatus transmits communicationpacket in the state where additional information is included into musicand/or video data, and the external output unit externally outputs musicand/or image on the basis of the transmitted music and/or video data,and operates the operating means on the basis of the additionalinformation.

[0017] In addition, in order to solve the above-described problems, adata transmitting method according to this invention includes a packetdata generation step of allowing music and/or video data reproduced froma recording medium to be packet data so that communication packet isprovided, and of inserting additional information into the communicationpacket, and a transmitting step of transmitting the communication packetoutputted at the packet data generation step onto transmission path.

[0018] By such data transmitting method, the data transmitting unittransmits communication packet in the state where additional informationis included into music and/or video data, and the external output unitexternally outputs music and/or image on the basis of transmitted musicand/or video data, and operates operating means on the basis of theadditional information.

[0019] Still further objects of this invention and more practical meritsobtained by this invention will become more apparent from thedescription of the embodiment which will be given below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the configuration of a reproducingsystem shown as an embodiment of this invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration ofreproduction player and remocon of the reproducing system shown in FIG.1.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a view showing data form used between the reproductionplayer and the remocon of the reproducing system shown in FIG. 1.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processingat packet processing unit of the reproduction player shown in FIG. 2.

[0024]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processingat packet processing unit of the remocon shown in FIG. 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] An embodiment of this invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the attached drawings. In the embodiment shown here,this invention is applied to a reproducing system, particularly portablereproducing system comprising a reproduction player exclusive forreproduction, and a remote controller (hereinafter referred to asremocon) for carrying out remote control of this reproduction player bywireless.

[0026] The reproducing system shown as this embodiment comprises, asshown in FIG. 1, a reproduction player 10 and a remocon 20. Thereproduction player 10 is constituted as a unit of the side whererecording medium is loaded in this system. This reproduction player 10is caused to be compact and portable. As a recording medium that thisreproduction player 10 reproduces, there is mentioned a recording mediumadapted so that music and/or video data (A/V data) is recorded. In morepractical sense, there are mentioned a disc-shaped recording medium suchas the so-called CD (Compact Disc), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or MD(Mini Disc), etc., a tape-shaped recording medium, and/or asemiconductor memory caused to be in substantially thin plate form, etc.

[0027] On the other hand, the remocon 20 has a function to carry outremote control of the reproduction player 10 by wireless, and has afunction as an external output equipment which externally outputs musicon the basis of music data, etc. reproduced at the reproduction player10. In more practical sense, this remocon 20 comprises a headphone 21 asexternal output means. Thus, the remocon 20 constitutes headphone withremocon.

[0028] Namely, the above-described reproduction player 10 constitutes aportion for reproducing music data recorded with respect to recordingmedium, and this remocon 20 constitutes an output unit which outputsmusic on the basis of music data reproduced at the reproduction player10.

[0029] Further, this remocon 20 comprises a display unit 22. The displayunit 22 is, e.g., liquid crystal display unit. The remocon 20 candisplay various information on this display unit 22. As variousinformation, there are mentioned information such as title of album,etc. For example, title name of such album is recorded with respect torecording medium as TOC (Table of Contents) data.

[0030] In addition, this remocon 20 comprises an antenna 23, and cantransmit/receive, by wireless, various information including music data,etc. between the remocon 20 and the reproduction player 10 similarlycomprising an antenna 11.

[0031] Here, as transmitting/receiving means by wireless carried outbetween equipments, there is mentioned the so-called Bluetooth, etc.Bluetooth is interface remarked in recent years as interface whichpermits digital wireless communication by wireless between pluralequipments, It is to be noted that it is needless to say that wirelesstransmitting/receiving means is not limited to this Bluetooth in theembodiment of this invention.

[0032] As stated above, in the reproducing system comprising thereproduction player 10 and the remocon 20, the reproduction player 10implements a predetermined processing such as Encode and/or conversioninto communication packet data, etc. to music data reproduced from therecording medium to transmit the music data thus processed to theremocon 20 through the antenna 11 by wireless.

[0033] From the remocon 20, a control signal indicating that thereproduction player 10 starts reproduction of music data from therecording medium, etc. is transmitted. The remocon 20 receives datatransmitted from the reproduction player 10 through the antenna 23 toimplement a predetermined processing such as Decode, etc. to output itas music from the headphone 21.

[0034] The reproduction form in such music system is the same as theprior art one. However, the reproducing system to which this inventionis applied is characterized in that the remocon 20 can further displayinformation indicating the present operating state of the reproductionplayer 10, and/or information such as track No. of tune or title of tunethat the reproduction player 10 is reproducing, or playing remainingtime of tune, reproduction time, etc. (hereinafter referred to as tunereproduction information) on the display unit 22 on the real time basis.Here, as information indicating present operating state (hereinafterreferred to as operating state information), there is mentioned internalstate of the reproduction player 10 (e.g., playback (reproduction),double speed playback (reproduction), stop, temporary stop, etc.).

[0035] As stated above, the reproducing system to which this inventionis applied includes data, etc. for displaying operating state on thedisplay unit 22 into communication packet of music data alwaystransmitted from the reproduction player 10 to the remocon 20 duringreproduction of music, thereby permitting user to recognize operatingstate of the reproduction player 10 or reproduction state of tune at theremocon 20.

[0036] Namely, at the remocon 20, music data transmitted from thereproduction player 10 is outputted from the output unit 21 such as theheadphone, and various information are displayed on the display unit 22on the basis of other data included or added into communication packetof this music data.

[0037] The portion to which this invention is applied and in which thisinvention is realized will now be described in more practical sense.FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the reproduction player 10 andthe remocon 20.

[0038] Here, the reproduction player 10 comprises, as shown in FIG. 2, adisc reproducing unit 12, an encoder 13, a packet processing unit 14, aninformation management unit 15, and a transmitting unit 16. Thereproduction player 10 comprises the disc reproducing unit 12, etc., andis the example constituted as player for reproduction of music datarecorded on disc-shaped recording medium (hereinafter simply referred toas disc) such as CD, etc. On the other hand, the remocon 20 comprises,as shown in FIG. 2, a receiving unit 24, a packet processing unit 25, adecoder 26, an information management unit 27, output unit 21, and theabove-described display unit 22.

[0039] In this reproduction player 10, the disc reproducing unit 12 andthe encoder 13 constitute reproducing means for reproducing music and/orvideo data from the recording medium, the packet processing unit 14constitutes packet data generating means adapted so that when such musicand/or video data that reproducing means has reproduced is caused to bepacket data so that communication packet is provided, it insertsadditional information into communication packet, and the transmittingunit 16 constitutes transmitting means for transmitting communicationpacket outputted from the packet processing unit 14 onto communicationpath.

[0040] Further, at the remocon 20, the receiving unit 24 constitutesreceiving means for receiving communication packet on the communicationpath, and the packet processing unit 25 functions as data taking-outmeans for taking out additional information along with music and/orvideo data from communication packet that the receiving unit 24 hasreceived. In addition, the output unit 21 constitutes external outputmeans for externally outputting music and/or image on the basis of musicand/or video data that the packet processing unit 25 has taken out, andthe display unit 22 constitutes operating means operative on the basisof additional information that the packet processing unit 25 has takenout.

[0041] Processing procedure until music is reproduced by thereproduction player 10 and music is externally outputted by the remocon20 will be described below with respect to respective components of thereproduction player 10 and the remocon 20 shown as this embodiment.

[0042] In the reproduction player 10, the disc reproducing unit 12 readsout audio data from disc. Moreover, the disc reproducing unit 12 readsout TOC (Table of Contents) data from the disc. In the TOC data, thereare included information relating to music recorded on the disc, e.g.,album name, titles of respective tunes and playing times of respectivetunes, etc. This TOC data is caused to undergo management at theinformation management unit 15 which will be described later in detail.

[0043] The encoder 13 implements a predetermined signal processing, etc.to audio data which has been read out as stream from the discreproducing unit 12. In more practical sense, the encoder 13 dividesstream of audio data as frame to supplement frame header, tag asoccasion demands.

[0044] As a compressing technique of audio data in the encoder 13, e.g.,MP3 can be used. MP3 is one of compressing techniques of audio data inconformity with MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), and indicates MPEG1Audio Layer 3 in formal sense. This compressing system of MP3 ischaracterized in that data is compressed by making use of thecharacteristic of auditory sense of the human being of “minimum audiblelimit” and “masking effect”.

[0045] For example, in MP3, file format as shown in FIG. 3 is defined.File 90 consists of header 91, audio data 92 and Tag 93. Here, in theheader 91, there are stored, e.g., codec information, etc. relating toencode system, e.g., kind of CODEC (e.g., further finely classified kindin MPEG Audio), bit rate, sampling frequency and channel mode (e.g.,mode such as stereo or monaural, etc.), etc. Further, in the tag 93,there are included TOC data such as name of tune, artist name, albumname, age and genre, etc.

[0046] Moreover, in the MP3, audio data of file 90 is partitioned everytime to allow respective partitioned audio data caused to be in packetform to be MPEG audio frame 100 to define frame format.

[0047] In frame header 101, information of this frame 100 is insertedsimilarly to header 91 of file 90. For example, information of lengthwithin frame is also included. In addition, in the frame header 101,Private Bit that user can freely use is also included.

[0048] Here, information added to audio data 102 at the encoder 13 isinformation obtained from the information management unit 15. Theinformation management unit 15 operates in a manner described below.

[0049] The information management unit 15 carries out management ofinformation of TOC data which has been read out from the disc. Further,this information management unit 15 also carries out management ofoperating state information indicating operating state of thisreproduction player 10 and/or tune reproduction information of No. etc.of track being reproduced in addition to TOC data. As the operatingstate information, there are mentioned information such as playback(reproduction), temporary stop and/or fast feed, etc. of thereproduction player 10 as described above.

[0050] For example, management information such as operating stateinformation and/or tune reproduction information, etc. which are causedto undergo management by the information management unit 15 areinformation realized by application which operates this reproducingsystem, and this management information constitutes information peculiarto application.

[0051] Further, the information management unit 15 delivers variousinformation caused to undergo management to packet processing unit 14which will be described later. In more practical sense, the informationmanagement unit 15 sends out operating state information and tunereproduction information to the packet processing unit 14. For example,the information management unit 15 outputs these information at requiredtiming from the packet processing unit 14.

[0052] The encoder 13 divides audio data which has been read out fromthe disc to output divided data to the packet processing unit 14 asframe in conformity with the above-described frame format.

[0053] The packet processing unit 14 mainly functions as a unit whichadds header for carrying out data communication to frame delivered fromthe encoder 13. Kind of header to be added is determined in dependencyupon protocol used in communication.

[0054] For example, in the case of real time streaming on internetprotocol (IP), RTP (Real Time Transport Protocol)/UDP (User DatagramProtocol) is mentioned as protocol. Here, real time streaming is anoperation to carry out transmission/reception of data while carrying outencode or decode operation of data.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 3, the packet processing unit 14 adds UDP header111 and RTP header 112 to data (frame data in this example) 100outputted from the encoder 13 to generate communication packet 110.

[0056] Here, RTP header 112 serves to give preliminary information inorder to permit the receiving side of data to reproduce stream atcorrect order and timing. Namely, the RTP header 112 constitutesauxiliary header. In more practical sense, in the RTP header 112, thereare included information such as payload type, order number (order to bereproduced) and time mark (time when reproduction is carried out), etc.The payload type is kind of codec included as data, MPEG Audio, PCM(Pulse Code Modulation), Audio, and/or the so-called G. 721, etc. Inaddition, in the RTP header 112, Marker Bit that user can freely use isalso included.

[0057] UDP header 111 is header indispensable for carrying outcommunication on internet protocol. In more practical sense, in the UDPheader 111, information such as transmit source data 121, transmitdestination data 122, total data length 123 and/or check sum 124, etc.are included. Here, the total data length 123 indicates length of datasucceeding to the UDP header 111. In addition, the check sum 124 isinformation for checking at the communication packet receiving sidewhether or not communication error takes place.

[0058] The packet processing unit 14 adds the UDP header 111 and the RTPheader 112 to frame data 100 outputted from the encoder 13, and addsadditional information 113 succeeding to the data 100 as shown in FIG. 3as another processing.

[0059] Here, additional information 113 that the packet processing unit14 adds to the frame data 100 is operating state information indicatingoperating state of the reproduction player 10, and is informationobtained from the information management unit 15. For example, morepractical form of additional information added after the frame data 100is such that additional information length is indicated by 113 ₁, andthe portion succeeding thereto is caused to be data 113 ₂ includingheader.

[0060] For example, this additional information 113 is informationdisplayed on the display unit 22 of the remocon 20, and is informationindicating track No. of tune that the reproduction player 10 isreproducing at present, title of tune, playing remaining time of tune,and/or internal state of player (e.g., playback (reproduction), doublespeed playback (reproduction), stop, temporary stop, etc), etc..

[0061] Moreover, in the case where additional information 113 is addedto frame data 100, the reproduction player 10 also sends informationindicating presence or absence of that addition to the remocon 20. Inthis case, the reproduction player 10 uses, e.g., Private Bit which isredundant bit within frame header 101, or Marker Bit which is redundantbit within RTP header 112.

[0062] Here, explanation will be given in connection with the case wherePrivate Bit is used to notify presence or absence of additionalinformation. For example, when application is implemented, sucharrangement is made in advance. Thus, at the receiving side, it ispossible to recognize in advance the place (portion) where informationnotifying presence or absence of additional information is stored.

[0063] In more practical sense, arrangement is made such that in thecase where Private Bit is “1”, additional information exists, and in thecase where Private Bit is “0”, additional information does not exist.Namely, at the receiving side, if Private Bit is “1”, it is seen thatadditional information 113 of additional data length 113, and data 113 ₂including header is added.

[0064] At step S1, the packet processing unit 14 discriminates whetheror not frame data 100 is transmitted from the encoder 13. In the casewhere frame data 100 is delivered from the encoder 13, the packetprocessing unit 14 first adds UDP header 111 and RTP header 112 to theframe data 100 at step S2.

[0065] Then, at step S3, the packet processing unit 14 discriminateswhether or not additional information added after the frame data 100exists. Here, in the case where additional information added after framedoes not exist, processing by the packet processing unit 14 jumps tostep S6 to calculate total data length of UDP packet. In more practicalsense, the packet processing unit 14 calculates sum of data lengths ofRTP header 112 and frame data 100.

[0066] Moreover, in the case where information added after frame existsat the step S3, processing by the packet processing unit 14 proceeds tostep S4 to add additional information (information data). In morepractical sense, the packet processing unit 14 adds information to betransmitted to the remocon 20 of information caused to undergomanagement at the information management unit 15 to the portion afterframe data 100 as shown in FIG. 3. The additional information is addedto the portion after frame data 100, and actual information 113 ₂ isadded in a manner succeeding to additional data length 113 ₁ indicatinglength of additional data.

[0067] At the subsequent step S5, the packet processing unit 14 raises(sets) Private Bit in the frame header 101. Namely, in the case whereadditional information is added after frame data, flag is raised (set).Thus, the remocon 20 serving as the receiving side of communicationpacket 110 can recognize additional information 113 added after framedata 100.

[0068] It is to be noted that while it is not limited that informationwhich notifies presence or absence of additional information is realizedby using Private Bit which is the so-called reserve bit as describedabove, such information may be also realized by using marker bit whichis reserve bit provided in other area, or provided at other stage ofdata formation.

[0069] As described above, communication packet is formed via the packetprocessing unit 14. The reproduction player 10 sends out communicationpacket generated in this way to actual communication path through thetransmitting unit 16 including the antenna 11. In the case whereBluetooth is employed, the transmitting unit 16 implements base bandprocessing and RF processing, etc. corresponding thereto.

[0070] On the other hand, at the remocon 20, radio wave from thereproduction player 10 is received at the receiving unit 24 includingthe antenna 23. The receiving unit 24 carries out demodulationprocessing of received signal. Thus, at the receiving unit 24, datawhich has the same form as communication packet generated at the packetprocessing unit 14 of the reproduction player 10 is restored.Thereafter, the receiving unit 24 outputs data which has been caused toundergo demodulation processing to the packet processing unit 25 of thesucceeding stage.

[0071] The packet processing unit 25 implements a processing for takingout frame data (or referred to as audio frame as occasion may demand)and additional information from the received communication packet. Thepacket processing unit 25 outputs the frame data which has been takenout to the decoder 26. In addition, the packet processing unit 25outputs additional information which has been taken out to theinformation management unit 27.

[0072]FIG. 5 shows a more practical example of a series of processingprocedure at the packet processing unit 25.

[0073] At step S11, the packet processing unit 25 discriminates whetheror not communication packet is received. In the case where communicationpacket is delivered from the receiving unit 24, the packet processingunit 25 checks header of communication packet at step S12. In morepractical sense, the packet processing unit 25 compares total datalength 123 and check sum 124 stored in UDP header 111, and RTP header112, frame data 100 and additional information 113 succeeding thereto toexamine whether or not communication is correctly carried out.

[0074] Then, the packet processing unit 25 examines order number of RTPheader 112 to rearrange received communication packets so that correctorder is provided when frame data 100 is reproduced at the decoder 26.

[0075] Moreover, the packet processing unit 25 examines payload type ofRTP header 112 to analyse frame header 101 in accordance therewith.Thus, the packet processing unit 25 is operative so that when payloadtype is MPEG Audio, it judges that frame header 101 of MPEG Audio issuccessive after RTP header 112 to carry out corresponding processing.

[0076] At step S13, the packet processing unit 25 examines presence orabsence of additional information. In more practical sense, the packetprocessing unit 25 examines the state of Private Bit of frame header 101on the basis of arrangement determined in advance. It is discriminatedthat in the case where Private Bit is “1”, additional information exits,and in the case where Private Bit is “0”, additional information doesnot exist.

[0077] In the case where Private Bit is caused to be “1” so thatadditional information exists, the packet processing unit 25 extractsadditional information 113 from frame data 100 at step S14.

[0078] As a technique for extracting this additional information 113, inmore practical sense, the packet processing unit 25 first calculateslength of frame data 100 succeeding to RTP header 112 on the basis ofdata included in frame header 101. Thus, start position of additionalinformation is determined. Length of additional information isdetermined as difference obtained by subtracting sum of data length offrame data 100 and data length of RTP header 112 from total data length(data) 123 stored in UDP header 111.

[0079] Thus, it becomes possible to specify position of additionalinformation 113 within communication packet 110 and that data length.For this reason, extraction of additional information 113 from framedata 100 can be made. Further, the packet processing unit 25 outputsobtained additional information 113 to the information management unit27.

[0080] Moreover, the packet processing unit 25 extracts additionalinformation 113 thereafter to remove RTP header 112 from the remainingdata portion consisting of RTP header 112 and frame data to take outframe data 100 which is audio frame. The packet processing unit 25outputs obtained frame data 100 to the decoder 26.

[0081] The decoder 26 decodes the frame data 100 to output it to theoutput unit 21. The output unit 21 serving as voice output means such asheadphone, etc. outputs music decoded by the decoder 26 to the external.

[0082] Thus, additional information and/or music (tune) information,etc. are inputted to the information management unit 27. From thedisplay unit 22, information caused to undergo management at theinformation management unit 27 is outputted.

[0083] For example, album name being reproduced, title of tune andplaying time of tune, etc. are displayed on the display unit 22. In morepractical sense, track No. of tune being reproduced, title of tuneand/or playing remaining time of tune, etc. are displayed on the displayunit 22 on the basis of tune reproduction information. In addition, theoperating state of the reproduction player 10 such as playback(reproduction), doble speed playback (reproduction), stop and/ortemporary stop, etc. is displayed on the real time basis on the basis ofthe operating state information.

[0084] It is to be noted that while explanation has been given inconnection with the fact that reserve bit of frame header 101 or RTPheader 112 is used in order to notify presence or absence of additionalinformation to the remocon 20 serving as the receiving side, the remocon20 may also detect presence or absence of additional information withoutusing reserve bit.

[0085] In this case, for example, at the packet processing unit 25 inthe remocon 20, difference between total data length (data) 123 includedin communication packet header such as UDP header 111, etc. and framelength (data) calculated from data included in frame header 101 of framedata 100 is examined. Because this difference result indicates presenceor absence of additional information, the packet processing unit 25 canexamine difference of necessary data length without using reserve bit todetect presence or absence of additional information. The packetprocessing unit 25 carries out extraction of additional information in amanner as described above on the basis of result of presence or absenceof detected additional information.

[0086] As described above, the reproducing system can output musicreproduced at the reproduction player 10 from the output unit 21 such asthe headphone of the remocon 20, display name of tune being reproduced,and display operating state information or tune reproduction informationat the reproduction player 10 on the real time basis on the display unit22.

[0087] Thus, the reproducing system sends additional information alongwith music data from the reproduction player 10, thereby making itpossible to notify, to user, on the real time basis, information such astrack No. of tune being reproduced, title of tune, playing remainingtime, etc. and operating state of the reproduction player 10 (playback(reproduction), doble speed playback (reproduction), etc. stop,temporary stop and fast feed, etc.), etc.

[0088] Moreover, in this reproducing system, even if information thatapplication desires to utilize is not defined within frame of music dataor in header added at the time of transmission, it is possible totransmit and receive this information.

[0089] Namely, in the case where application which operates thisreproducing system is provided after frame for data transmission orheader added at the time of transmission is defined (such case is rathergeneral), this invention is particularly effective.

[0090] Further, in the reproducing system, as the premise for realizingoperation to which this invention is applied as described above,addition of information when header is supplemented to frame data togenerate communication packet data and/or arrangement of format oftechnique for addition of additional information, etc. are thecondition. In this case, it is possible to realize a function totransmit and receive additional information without carrying out changeof basic communication protocol, change of format of frame andcommunication packet header, and change of basic function at the encoder13 or the decoder 26, etc.

[0091] Namely, the reproducing system realizes, on the display unit 22of the remocon 20, display of operating state information or tunereproduction information at the reproduction player 10 withoutcomplicating procedure and/or structure of the apparatus.

[0092] Further, when music is externally outputted from the output unit21 of the remocon 20, frame data 100 is transmitted at all times ascommunication packet 110 from the reproduction player 20 to the remocon20 so that additional information 113 is added to this frame data 100.Namely, additional information is added to frame data 100 at all times.

[0093] Further, here, addition of additional information may be carriedout only as occasion demands. Namely, in a series of communicationprocessing during reproduction of tune, there may be cases whereadditional information is transmitted from the reproduction player 10 tothe remocon 20, and there may be cases where such additional informationis not transmitted. Thus, the remocon 20 does not read out additionalinformation at all times.

[0094] Further, while explanation has been given by taking thereproducing system for reproducing music as an example in thisembodiment, it is needless to say that this invention is not limited tothe reproducing system for music. For example, this invention can bealso applied to systems for handling image and music. Further, thisinvention can be also applied to a recording system for recordinginformation, and a recording/reproducing system for carrying outrecording and reproduction.

[0095] Further, while explanation has been given by taking the exampleof the system in which MPEG, etc. has been already applied as protocoland explanation has been given by taking the example of Bluetooth withrespect to communication in this embodiment, this invention is notlimited to such implementation, but can be also applied to apparatusesor systems in which other protocol and/or communication system areemployed.

[0096] In addition, explanation has been given in this embodiment inconnection with the case where additional information is informationindicating operating state such as playback (reproduction) or temporarystop, etc. at the reproduction player 10, this invention is not limitedto such implementation. Namely, it is sufficient that, e.g., additionalinformation is at least information which can be acquired at thereproduction player 10. In more practical sense, additional informationmay be information, etc. peculiar to application provided for operatingthis reproducing system.

[0097] Industrial Applicability

[0098] In accordance with the reproducing system according to thisinvention, the reproducing unit allows reproduced music and/or videodata to be packet data so that communication packet is provided, andinserts additional information into the communication packet to transmitit, and the external output unit externally outputs music and/or imageon the basis of received music and video data, and can operate operatingmeans on the basis of additional information inserted into communicationpacket.

1. A reproducing system comprising: a reproducing unit comprising packetdata generating means for allowing music and/or video data reproducedfrom a recording medium to be packet data so that communication packetis provided, and for inserting additional information into thecommunication packet, and transmitting means for transmitting thecommunication packet outputted from the packet data generating meansonto communication path; and an external output unit comprisingreceiving means for receiving the communication packet on thecommunication path, data taking-out means for taking out the additionalinformation along with the music and/or video data from thecommunication packet that the receiving means has received, externaloutput means for externally outputting music and/or image on the basisof the music and/or video data that the data taking-out means has takenout, and operating means operative on the basis of the additionalinformation that the data taking-out means has taken out.
 2. Thereproducing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the additionalinformation consists of at least one of operating state informationrelating to operation of the reproducing unit and information relatingto data that the reproducing unit is reproducing at present.
 3. Thereproducing system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the operating meansis display means for carrying out display output of information to theexternal, and wherein the display means carries out display output of atleast one of the operating state information and information relating todata that the reproducing unit is reproducing at present.
 4. Thereproducing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the external outputunit comprises control means for carrying out at least reproductioncontrol of the reproducing unit.
 5. The reproducing system as set forthin claim 1, wherein the reproducing unit uses redundant bit in whichuser use is permitted within the communication packet to indicatepresence or absence of the additional information, and wherein theexternal output unit detects presence or absence of the additionalinformation from the redundant bit of the communication packet to takeout the additional information by the data taking-out means on the basisof the detection result.
 6. The reproducing system as set forth in claim1, wherein the packet data generating means inserts data lengthinformation indicating total data length of music and/or video datawithin the communication packet and the additional information into thecommunication packet, and wherein the data taking-out means detectspresence or absence of the additional information on the basis ofdifference of the music and/or video data from the total data lengththat the data length information within the communication packetindicates to take out the additional information on the basis of thedetection result.
 7. The reproducing system as set forth in claim 6,wherein the total data length information is inserted into header of thecommunication packet.
 8. A reproducing method including: a reproductiontransmitting step of reproducing music and/or video data from arecording medium at a reproducing unit to allow the music and/or videodata to be packet data so that communication packet is provided, and ofinserting additional information into the communication packet totransmit the communication packet onto communication path, and anexternal output step of receiving the communication packet transmittedon the communication path at the reproduction transmitting step at anexternal output unit to take out the additional information along withthe music and/or video data from the received communication packet toexternally output music and/or image on the basis of the music and/orvideo data which has been taken out, and of operating operating means onthe basis of the additional information.
 9. The reproducing method asset forth in claim 8, wherein the additional information consists of atleast one of operating state information relating to operation of thereproducing unit and information relating to data that the reproducingunit is reproducing at present.
 10. A data transmitting apparatus forexternally outputting music and/or image on the basis of music and/orvideo data, and for transmitting, to an external output unit foroperating operating means on the basis of additional information, themusic and/or video data and the additional information, the datatransmitting apparatus comprising: packet data generating means forallowing the music and/or video data reproduced from a recording mediumto be packet data so that communication packet is provided, and forinserting the additional information into the communication packet; andtransmitting means for transmitting the communication packet outputtedfrom the packet data generating means onto communication path.
 11. Thedata transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein theadditional information consists of at least one of operating stateinformation relating to operation and information relating to data beingreproduced.
 12. The data transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim11, wherein the operating means is display means for carrying outdisplay output of information to the external, and wherein the displaymeans carries out display output of at least one of the operating stateinformation and information relating to data being reproduced.
 13. Thedata transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein theexternal output unit comprises control means, and wherein at leastreproduction control of the music and/or video data is carried out bythe control means.
 14. The data transmitting apparatus as set forth inclaim 10, wherein the external output unit detects presence or absenceof the additional information from redundant bit of the communicationpacket to take out the additional information by the data taking-outmeans on the basis of the detection result, and wherein redundant bit inwhich user use is permitted within the communication packet is used toindicate presence or absence of the additional information.
 15. The datatransmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the externaloutput unit detects presence or absence of the additional information onthe basis of difference of the music and/or video data from total datalength that the data length information within the communication packetindicates to take out the additional information on the basis of thedetection result, and wherein the packet data generating means insertsdata length information indicating total data length of music and/orvideo data within the communication packet and the additionalinformation into the communication packet.
 16. The data transmittingapparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the total data lengthinformation is inserted into header of the communication packet.
 17. Adata transmitting method of externally outputting music and/or image onthe basis of music and/or video data, and of transmitting the musicand/or video data and the additional information to an external outputunit for operating operating means on the basis of additionalinformation, the data transmitting method including: a packet datageneration step of allowing the music and/or video data reproduced froma recording medium to be packet data so that communication packet isprovided, and of inserting the additional information into thecommunication packet, and a transmitting step of transmitting thecommunication packet outputted at the packet data generation step ontocommunication path.